God's Promises When We Are Anxious

Thought For Today - May 17
God's Promise When – We Are Anxious
By: Robert A. Searles

To be anxious is to be overly concerned and troubled about issues and events in our lives over which we may have very little control.  We tend to be anxious about many things, including our health; our money and finances; our jobs; our family; friends, and loved ones.  We worry about things that we have no power to change.  It is very difficult, at times, not to be anxious while waiting for a phone call from the physician’s office or laboratory, to be told the results of a medical test or procedure for ourselves, or for someone in our family whom we love.

How shall we meet next month's budget for our home, or business?  How shall we feed our family on such a meager income?  How shall we prepare for our family's future?  How shall we pay for our children's education?  How! How! How! Shall we accomplish all these things?  We beat our heads against the wall, so to speak, searching for answers to these and many other questions.  We are anxious, and if this anxiety gets out of control, it can destroy our physical and mental health, and cause us to lose our Christian testimony, and sin against God.

We sin against God when we allow ourselves to worry.  Someone has said: “when we are worrying and are anxious, we are not trusting God, and if we are truly trusting God, we do not worry”.

We are told to give all our burdens and anxieties to the Lord.  “Cast thy burdens  upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee, he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55: 22 

“But I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee.” Isaiah 41; 13.

God has promised to supply all our needs, and to deliver us from trouble. Why should we be fearful and anxious when we have such a benevalent heavenly father?

“Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than ramient?"  Matthew 6: 25

" Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest for your soul.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11: 28, 29, 30.

“Be careful for nothing, but in every thing with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6, 7

Therefore, when we find ourselves becoming over anxious, let us: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and  lean not unto our own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5, 6.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Our Special Day

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
 Our Special Day!
By: Robert A. Searles

One Day in May, a long time ago, on this day, Friday, May 16, 1952, sixty five  years ago today, God blessed me with the gift of a virtuous woman “whose price is far above rubies”.  On that day, Joanne and I  pledged our love, honor, and  life to each other under God for as long as we both should live.  On that day we set out together in our “barque” to sail the ocean of life, and from that day forward, we have encountered many rough seas with treacherous waves and high winds - ( sicknesses,
discouragements,  uncertainties, sometimes disagreements, even deaths in both our families), but he who stilled the waves and walked on the water, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has piloted our ship safely and has brought us thus far on our journey together.

  We have been sailing the seas together these past sixty five years , having decided from the very beginning to build our house upon the solid rock which is Christ.  We know not how long it will be before we sight the promised shores of glory, but as the songwriter  has put it - “We are nearer our home today,- today, than we have been before ” .

On this our 65th anniversary, I want to thank  God for his keeping power, and for keeping  our love and devotion to one another even stronger now, than it was from the beginning.  Thank you Joanne for being my faithful partner for all these years. I love you truly!

My advice to young people who are contemplating  marriage – from the beginning, build your house upon the solid rock which is Jesus Christ, and allow him to pilot your vessel through the rough seas of life which you are sure to encounter.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

God's Promises to Us When - We are Filled With Longings

Thought For Today - May 15
 God's Promises To Us When – We Are filled with Longings
By: Robert A. Searles

     What are the longings and desires of your heart today?  Is it for improved health; long life; for more friends; for a more secure future; for prosperity; for a better job; to find your life's companion; to get married and have a family; To complete your education; are these and perhaps many more the major longings of your heart today?

These are the most common kinds of longings and desires which we all share, and if put into the right perspective, they are all good longings and desires in themselves.  But there is something that we all ought to crave and long for more than anything else, and that is – our eternally secure relationship with God our heavenly Father. For the truth of the whole matter is, if all of our carnal desires were to be fulfilled, they are temporal, and can satisfy for only a short time, for what is our life but a vapor which soon passes away and is eventually gone?

We ought to be longing to know God in the fullest sense of the word through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We ought to delight ourselves in the Lord, and share with him those things that we most earnestly desire and long for.

The Lord has promised to plant in our  heart the right kinds of longings and desires, and to bring them to fruition if we will delight ourselves in him.

 “Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37: 4.

 God has promised not to withhold any good thing from those that walk uprightly.  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84: 11.

God promises to satisfy our mouth with good things and to renew our youth.  “Who satsifieth thy mouth with good things, and reneweth thy youth like ther eagle.” Psalm 103: 5

God already  knows the things that are most needful to us, and he has promissed to supply all of our needs, and give us the grace we need for every situation, if we will seek him first, all these things shall be added to us.

  “And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind.  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and you Father knoweth ye have need of those things, but rather seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Luke 12: 29-31.

     For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:9

We have a very rich heavenly Father who is more than willing to share his bounty with us if we will approach him in faith through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us go to him today with all our longings and desires, and trust that he will grant to us all that will be good for us and bring glory to him.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

God's Promise of Salvation

Thought For Today - May 18, 2024
God's Promise of Salvation
By: Robert A. Searles

     A cry for help is heard from a lost and dying world.  A world  engrossed in sin and evil, shrouded in darkness, and seemingly without hope, clamors for answers, and gropes at the nearest floating straw which has no anchor.

     For centuries, since the beginning of time, and when disobedience to God entered the scene, evil has had dominion over the lives of men and women, causing them to murder, steal, lie, and commit all manner of cruelty and atrocities toward one another, and to blaspheme the Holy God who is their creator, and their source of life and well being, although wicked men and women may not recognize him as such.  God's laws are ignored, his Holy word desecrated, and his appeal to the lost to accept his mercy and loving kindness ridiculed, yet a lost world cries for help, but refuses to recognize it when it is offered.

     Whenever we have a physical emergency, or a life threatening situation, we send a call to the nearest aid station, such as to 911, the coast guard, the police, the firemen, the national guard.  We welcome the sound of the siren, and the first responders when they arrived on the scene.

     The inner soul of all mankind  is in a life threatening state called sin, a state which we are all  aware of because we have been given inherent awareness of our state of affairs.  God has declared all to have sinned and come short of his glory, and consequently, all are lost and without hope in the world,  being separated from God, and trying, by our own efforts to save ourselves.  The world while sinking deeper in the mire of sin, cries peace! peace! when there is no peace, help! help! when there is no help but that from God.

     The desperate man cries for help -”From whence cometh my help? The wise man who has discovered his source of help answers - “My help cometh from the Lord who has made heaven and earth.”  God has promised to help and save the lost if they will call upon him in truth and by faith, believing his promises.  God is not willing that any should be lost, but that as many as will call and trust him, he will snatch from the pits of hell and the miry clay, renew a right spirit  within them, clothe them with the garment of Christ's righteousness, and guarantee them a place in his kingdom, and give them eternal life.

     When the first responders come to save our physical possessions, and our physical lives, many times they risk and lose their own lives for the sake of those whom they are trying to rescue.  Jesus said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should give up his own life for his friend.”

     When a loving heavenly Father responds to the call of a lost sinner, he responds immediately to the call.  Rescue from sin and damnation is sure to the lost, and it is free to the one who receives it, but it was truly expensive to God who gave his only begotten son to leave his riches and  glory in  heaven to come to a sin cursed world to save  the lost. No one need to be lost forever and spend eternity in hell.  God has promised salvation to all who will believe and receive.

     Christ is the answer.  He is the first responder to the cry of our soul for salvation.  “Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that  come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession  for them.:” Hebrews 7: 25.

  “But the salvation of  the righteous is of the Lord; he is their  strength in time of trouble, and the Lord shall help then; he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they trust in him.” Psalm 37: 39, 40.

  “And it shall be said in that day, lo, this is our God; we have waited for him , and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25: 9.

  “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall between us.” Ephesians 2:14

     “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8.9

     God has promised salvation to a lost and dying world, but how shall we  be  saved?  “And they said: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16: 31

God's Promises When We - Feel Despair

Thought for Today - May 12
God's Promises When We – Feel Despair
By: Robert A. Searles

     When we find ourselves in a seemingly hopeless situation with no foreseeable remedy, whether it be  because of our ill health, or financial difficulties, or personal, family, or moral issues, we tend to fall into an abyss of dark discouragement from which there seems to be no escape.  This is where Satan would like to have us imprisoned where he can taunt us with morbid thoughts, and cause us to doubt the love and protection of our heavenly Father.  When we allow ourselves to be confined to this prison of despair, we tend to  accuse God for mistreating us, and blame those around us for our adverse circumstances.

     When we allow ourselves to fall into a state of despair, we are turning our back on God and contradicting his covenant with his children, to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory.  When we see discouragements approaching which could drag us down deep into the pits of despair, we need to remind ourselves, and ask ourselves this question – If God so loved us that he gave his son to die for us to save us from hell, will he not also give us freely and provide for all our need as we ask, believe, and receive, whether it be for our health, finances, the salvation of love ones or for other  problems?

     God has promised to meet our every need.  He admonishes us to ask, believe, and receive his blessings, and continue to  walk in his light, as he is the light of the world.  We never need to be ashamed of our hope, as long as we are hiding ourselves in God.  God's law is our hiding place.

     “Uphold me according to thy word that I may live and not be ashamed of my hope.” Psalm 119: 116.

God promises to revive the spirit of the humble, and revive the heart of the contrite ones.  “For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy.  I dwell in the high  and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of  the contrite ones.”Isaiah 57: 15.

     God tells us not to cast away our confidence in him.  “Cast not away, therefore, your confidence which  hath great recompense of  reward.  For ye have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God ye shall receive the promise.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10: 35, 36, 37

     We have a treasure within us – the Holy Spirit, who provides the power for us to accomplish all that God asks us to accomplish.  We may be troubled, but with God in us, we cannot be destroyed.  “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not in us. We are troubled on every side, yet not destroyed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor 4: 7,8

With God with us we need not succumb to despair, for with God we can overcome and accomplish great things.  Nothing is impossible with God.


Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications..blogspot.com

God's Promise When We Feel Guilty

Thought for Today - May 11
God's Promise When We - Feel Guilty
By: Robert A. Searles

     Appearing before the judgment seat of God - how do you plead – guilty, or not guilty of sinning and breaking the laws of God?  The prosecuting attorney, our accuser, which is, by the way, our own guilty conscience, if you will, bears witness, and makes stunning accusations against us before the throne of God.

     Whether we want to admit it or not, we know that the witness of our own conscience is true – that we are indeed guilty of disobeying and sinning against God.  If we plead not guilty, we make God out to be a liar, because the Holy omniscient God has already declared that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

     When we try to hide our guilty conscience from God and others, and try to justify ourselves by our own good works, we fail miserably, and we end up bearing a heavy burden of guilty feelings on our shoulders.  Living with this heavy burden of guilty feelings on our shoulders day by day, not only effects us, and makes us miserable, but it also effects the lives of those around us as well.

     Why not plead guilty before God.  Confess our sins, rely on God's mercy, and claim his promises for the remedy of a guilty conscience.  God has given to us precious promises to relieve our soul of guilt, and restore fellowship with himself.

     Sin not confessed, causes us to be banished from God and from his fellowship, but God has made adequate provision  for us to be restored. 

     “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him.” 2 Samuel 14:14.

     God in his mercy and love, has from the foundation of the earth, devised means whereby he can forgive sins and set the guilty free, and draw them back to himself.  “If thou Lord should mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand, but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” Psalm 130: 3,4.

     God offered his son, who knew no sin, to suffer the penalty of our guilt by his death on the cross, and by his resurrection, justified all who will believe and receive him as Savior.  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.  For the law of the spirit of the life  in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” Romans 8: 1,2.

     “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inhereit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminite, nor abusers with themselves with mankind, nor theives nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you:  But you are washed, but you are sanctifed, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11.

     If any one who may be reading these lines is plagued and cast down with a heavy guilty concience, please believe and accept the promise of God.  “If we will confess our sins, he is just and able to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9.

     O Sinner, please accept Christ today.  Drop the heavy burden of guilt from your shoulders and go free.  Oh! Sinner, go free!

Telehelp Publictions Christian Literature Ministry
Psalm 26:7

The Strange Woman

Thought for Today - May 10
The Strange Women
By: Robert A. Searles

     As well as warning us to beware of the folly of the lust of the flesh as it pertains to falling into the sin of adultery, the mention of the strange woman in scripture typifies, and speaks of anything that would draw us away from God.  Adultery in scripture also has a twofold meaning, in that, not only  does it pertain to the actual act of physical adultery, but it  also typifies and speaks of the act of turning away from our first love, who, for the Christian and child of God, is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

     The command given to us that we should not commit adultery is a twofold command to warn  us not   to leave our physical mates for another, but also, it is a warning to the bride of Christ for us not to become involved in any affair that would constitute our committing spiritual adultery against our first love.  So, the mention of  the strange woman in the scriptures speaks of any thing, or any one, that would draw us away from God and his perfect will for us.  Speaking of the strange woman, Proverbs 5: 4 says: “Her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp  as a two edge sword.”

     What are the results of yielding to those things that draw us away from God?  When we are drawn away from God and commit adultery with other gods we are cast about by every wind or doctrine.  We are like the chaff that is blown about by the wind, according to Proverbs 5:6 . an unstable life without foundations , where it says: “Lest thou shouldest ponder the paths of life, her ways  are moveable, that thou canst not know them.”

     What are some of the strange women in our lives  with whom we commit adultery?  Could it be a sin that we have not confessed that draws us  out of fellowship with God? Could it be a grievance of the Holy Spirit because of something that we  have not made  right, perhaps a broken promise, or a vow that we have not kept?  Could it be that there is some  person -  husband, wife, son or daughtrer, mother, father, or friend, that we desire their admiration, respect, and esteem so much that we would turn aside from God to them?  Is the strange woman in our lives our material possessions, our house, our car, our business, bank accounts, our Job?  Is it our education?  Is it  our stanbding in the community?

    Whatever it is that draws us away from God and causes us not to put God at the very pinnacle of our lives, and the seat of our conscious worship, is nothing but an  adulterous whore, and we are warned to  seek wisdom  that  we may be kept away from the strange woman which flatereth with  her words.  Following the strange woman means ultimate destruction.  God                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 admonishes us not to be a wanderer away from God.   Be true to your first love. Be true to the wife of your youth.  Bride of Christ, be true to the one who has bought you and married you.

     Thou  shalt have no other gods before thee. Thou shalt love  the Lord thy  God with   all thy heart and with all thy soul.  So shall thou keep his commandments and live.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com